Westmeath County Council (Irish: Comhairle Chontae na hIarmhí) is the local authority of County Westmeath, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment. The council has 20 elected members. Elections are held every five years and are by single transferable vote. The head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach (chairperson). The county administration is headed by a chief executive, Pat Gallagher. The county town is Mullingar.
Westmeath County Council Comhairle Chontae na hIarmhí | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Liam McDaniel, FF | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 20 |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 7 June 2024 |
| Motto | |
| Irish: Triath ós Triathaibh "Noble above nobility" | |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| County Buildings, Mullingar | |
| Website | |
Official website  | |
History
editOriginally Westmeath County Council held its meetings in Mullingar Courthouse.[1] The council commissioned a purpose-built facility, known as County Hall, in Mount Street in Mullingar in the early 20th century.[2] In the early part of the 21st century it occupied a historic building on the same site associated with the old county gaol.[3] It then moved to more modern facilities at the new County Buildings, to the south of the previous facility, in 2009.[4]
Regional Assembly
editWestmeath County Council has two representatives on the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly who are part of the Midland Strategic Planning Area Committee.[5]
Elections
editMembers of Westmeath County Council are elected for a five-year term of office on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV) from multi-member local electoral areas (LEAs).
| Year | FF | FG | Lab | GP | SF | II | Ind | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 20 | |||||||
| 2019 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 20 | |||||||
| 2014 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | — | 2 | 20 | |||||||
| 2009 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 23 | |||||||
| 2004 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 23 | |||||||
| 1999 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 23 | |||||||
| 1991 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 23 | |||||||
| 1985 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 23 | |||||||
Local electoral areas and municipal districts
editCounty Westmeath is divided into LEAs, defined by electoral divisions, for the purposes of local elections, and into municipal districts for the purposes of local exercising of the powers of the local authority.[6]
| Municipal District | LEA | Definition | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athlone | Athlone | Athlone East Rural, Athlone East Urban, Athlone West Urban, Auburn, Carn, Castledaly, Doonis, Glassan, Killinure, Moydrum, Muckanagh and Tubbrit. | 5 |
| Moate | Ardnaglew, Ardnagragh, Ballinalack, Ballybroder, Ballykilmore, Ballymore, Ballymorin, Ballynagore, Bellanalack, Carrick, Castletown, Churchtown, Clonfad, Drumraney, Dysart, Emper, Glenlough, Greenpark, Jamestown, Kilbeggan, Kilbixy, Kilcumreragh, Killare, Lauree, Middleton, Moate, Mount Temple, Newtown, Noughaval, Piercetown, Portloman, Rahugh, Rathconrath, Rathowen, Skeagh, Sonna, Streamstown, Templepatrick, Umma and Winetown. | 4 | |
| Mullingar | Mullingar | Belvidere, Castle, Cloghan, Heathstown, Hopestown, Knockdrin, Mullingar North Urban, Mullingar Rural, Mullingar South Urban, Owel, Russellstown and Tullaghan. | 6 |
| Kinnegad | Ballinlough, Ballyhealy, Ballynaskeagh, Boherquill, Bracklin, Castlelost, Clonarney, Clonlost, Collinstown, Coole, Coolure, Copperalley, Delvin, Derrymore, Enniscoffey, Faughalstown, Finnea, Fore East, Fore West, Gaybrook, Glore, Griffinstown, Hilltown, Huntingdon, Kilcumny, Killua, Killucan, Killulagh, Kilpatrick, Kinnegad, Kinturk, Knockarrow, Lackan, Milltown, Multyfarnham, Raharney, Riverdale, Rosmead, Stonehall, Street, Taghmon and Woodland. | 5 |
Councillors
editThe following were elected at the 2024 Westmeath County Council election.
2024 seats summary
edit| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Fianna Fáil | 9 | |
| Fine Gael | 4 | |
| Labour | 2 | |
| Sinn Féin | 2 | |
| Independent Ireland | 1 | |
| Independent | 2 | |
Councillors by electoral area
editThis list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.[7]
| Council members from 2024 election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Local electoral area | Name | Party | |
| Athlone | Kevin "Boxer" Moran | Independent | |
| Frankie Keena | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Aengus O'Rourke | Fianna Fáil | ||
| John Dolan | Fine Gael | ||
| Paul Hogan | Independent Ireland | ||
| Kinnegad | Denis Leonard | Labour | |
| Alfie Devine | Fianna Fáil | ||
| David Jones | Sinn Féin | ||
| Niall Gaffney | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Emily Wallace | Fine Gael | ||
| Moate | Tom Farrell | Fine Gael | |
| Vinny McCormack | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Liam McDaniel | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Johnnie Penrose | Labour | ||
| Mullingar | Mick Dollard | Independent | |
| Ken Glynn | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Aoife Davitt | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Andrew Duncan | Fine Gael | ||
| Bill Collentine | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Julie McCourt | Sinn Féin | ||
References
edit- ^ Illingworth, Ruth (14 December 2017). "History of Mount Street". Mullingar.ie. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
- ^ "County Buildings, Mullingar, County Westmeath". Buildings of Ireland. Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
- ^ "County Buildings, Mullingar, County Westmeath". Buildings of Ireland. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
- ^ "New County Buildings in Mullingar win Opus 2009 architecture and construction award". The Advertiser. 13 November 2009. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014, Article 5 and Schedule 3 (S.I. No. 573 of 2014). Signed on 16 December 2014. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 1 May 2023.
- ^ County of Westmeath Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 636 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2019. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Westmeath County Council – Elected Candidates". RTÉ News. Retrieved 21 June 2024.